Variable volume carton
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A variable volume carton, the carton comprising:
- first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction; and
a plurality of panels, wherein longitudinally extending side edges of said plurality of panels are respectively connected to one another so that said plurality of panels extend at least partially around the carton'"'"'s interior, first end edges of said plurality of panels are proximate said first end, extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, and collectively at least partially define an opening while the carton is in an open configuration, with said opening being at said first end and providing access to the carton'"'"'s interior while the carton is in an open configuration, second end edges respectively of said plurality of panels are proximate said second end and extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, said plurality of panels includes a plurality of fold lines that are operative so said plurality of panels can be folded and unfolded at a position between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said plurality of panels, each panel of said plurality of panels is doubled over while said plurality of panels is folded at said position between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said plurality of panels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A blank can be erected into a carton that can be varied in volume. The carton can be configured in two different closed configurations, with the volume of the carton being different in the two closed configurations. In a first of the closed configurations, one or more flaps respectively hingedly connected to end edges of the carton'"'"'s panels can close the carton'"'"'s opening. In a second of the closed configurations, folding can take place so that the carton'"'"'s panels are doubled over at a position between their ends.
38 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A variable volume carton, the carton comprising:
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first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction; and
a plurality of panels, wherein longitudinally extending side edges of said plurality of panels are respectively connected to one another so that said plurality of panels extend at least partially around the carton'"'"'s interior, first end edges of said plurality of panels are proximate said first end, extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, and collectively at least partially define an opening while the carton is in an open configuration, with said opening being at said first end and providing access to the carton'"'"'s interior while the carton is in an open configuration, second end edges respectively of said plurality of panels are proximate said second end and extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, said plurality of panels includes a plurality of fold lines that are operative so said plurality of panels can be folded and unfolded at a position between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said plurality of panels, each panel of said plurality of panels is doubled over while said plurality of panels is folded at said position between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said plurality of panels. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A variable volume carton, the carton comprising:
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first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction; and
a plurality of panels, wherein longitudinally extending side edges of said plurality of panels are respectively connected to one another so that said plurality of panels extend at least partially around the carton'"'"'s interior, first end edges of said plurality of panels are proximate said first end, extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, and collectively at least partially define an opening while the carton is in an open configuration, with said opening being at said first end and providing access to the carton'"'"'s interior while the carton is in an open configuration, second end edges respectively of said plurality of panels are proximate said second end and extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, said plurality of panels includes a plurality of fold lines that are operative so said plurality of panels can be folded over and thereby doubled over at a position between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said plurality of panels, and none of said fold lines, which are operative so that said plurality of panels can be doubled over, is in substantially close proximity to said second end. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A variable volume carton, the carton comprising:
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first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction; and
a plurality of panels including, at least, first and second side panels that are spaced apart from one another and extend in the longitudinal direction, and third and fourth panels that extend in the longitudinal direction and are spaced apart from one another at least while the carton in an open configuration, wherein longitudinally extending side edges of said plurality of panels are respectively connected to one another so that said plurality of panels extend at least partially around the carton'"'"'s interior, first end edges of said plurality of panels are proximate said first end, extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, and collectively at least partially define an opening while the carton is in the open configuration, with said opening being at said first end and providing access to the carton'"'"'s interior while the carton is in the open configuration, second end edges respectively of said plurality of panels are proximate said second end and extend crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, for each side panel of said first and second side panels, said side panel includes at least one longitudinal fold line that is positioned between, and distant from, said side edges of said side panel and extends toward said first end edge of said side panel, and said third panel includes at least one fold line that extends crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction and is positioned between, and distant from said first end edge and said second end edge of said third panel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A blank for forming a variable volume carton, the blank comprising:
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a plurality of panels including, at least, first and second panels;
for each panel of said plurality of panels, said panel includes, at least, (a) opposite first and second end edges that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction, and (b) opposite first and second side edges that are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction;
said second side edge of said first panel is connected to said first side edge of said second panel by a first longitudinal fold line;
said first panel includes, at least, (a) a second longitudinal fold line that is positioned between, and distant from, said first and second side edges of said first panel, and (b) oblique fold lines that extend obliquely with respect to said second longitudinal fold line and divergently away from (1) said second longitudinal fold line, and (2) a predetermined location that is on said first panel and is positioned between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said first panel;
said second panel includes at least a first transverse fold line that is positioned between, and distant from, said first and second end edges of said second panel;
a first longitudinal distance is defined from said predetermined location on said first panel to said first end edge of said first panel;
a second longitudinal distance is defined from said first transverse fold line to said first end edge of said second panel; and
said first and second longitudinal distances are at least about equal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification